masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgChris Tillman is making his first start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, opposing former Orioles pitcher Kevin Millwood, who signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox and was assigned to Pawtucket.

Millwood lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and five hits, walking two, striking out three and hitting a batter. He threw 61 pitches, 36 for strikes.

Josh Bell was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Rhyne Hughes and Brendan Harris also drove in runs.

Tillman had a 4-0 lead going into…Chris Tillman is making his first start tonight for Triple-A Norfolk, opposing former Orioles pitcher Kevin Millwood, who signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox and was assigned to Pawtucket.

Millwood lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and five hits, walking two, striking out three and hitting a batter. He threw 61 pitches, 36 for strikes.

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Josh Bell was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Rhyne Hughes and Brendan Harris also drove in runs.

Tillman had a 4-0 lead going into the third inning, but he surrendered a three-run homer to former Oriole Darnell McDonald with two outs.

Even the affiliates give up two-out runs.

The Tides committed two errors in the inning, and none of the runs off Tillman were earned. Apparently, the official scorer has changed his mind a few times, because Tillman’s line has included three earned runs, one earned run, and now no earned runs.

Tillman has given up three hits, walked two batters and thrown a wild pitch. He’s thrown 61 pitches in three innings, 31 for strikes.

Tillman was 2-3 with a 4.69 ERA with the Orioles before being optioned this week. He didn’t allow a home run in his last seven starts, and he gave up one earned run or fewer in five of six outings. However, he lasted five innings or fewer in his last three starts, and five of six.

Update: Tillman allowed three unearned runs and five hits in five innings, with three walks, two strikeouts and a wild pitch. He threw 95 pitches, 48 for strikes.

No earned runs, high pitch count. It’s a work in progress.